North Yorkshire Moors Railway announces new re-opening date for Bridge 42

Following an update from engineers working on essential propping repairs to Bridge 42 near Grosmont, the railway said that the bridge would ropen on Saturday May 23, with the full line from Pickering to Whitby opening from Monday June 1.

While propping repairs continue, the railway remains open, with services running between Pickering and Goathland only.

Laura Strangeway, CEO of the NYMR, said: “Work to prop Bridge 42 continues at pace and substantial progress has been made.

"However, initial excavation work and test results have shown that further work is needed than initially anticipated, which has extended the programme of works.

“With complex work of this nature, it is not unusual for the schedule of work to be under constant review, and we are keeping our customers, volunteers and staff informed.

"After discussions with our engineering partners, we have decided to move the publicised re-opening date of Bridge 42 to May 23 and the full line from Pickering to Whitby will open on June 1, when our special event Day out with Thomas (May 23 to 31) concludes.

“The revised date reflects the additional work needed and provides a realistic timeframe within which to complete work to the required standard.”

Following detailed inspections earlier this year, it was determined that temporary propping is necessary to guarantee safety and operational reliability, until a full repair programme for Bridge 42 takes place over the closed season during the winter of 2026/27.

This programme will restore the bridge to its long-term structural integrity and ensure its preservation for future generations.